Preheater



Aug. 22, 1 944. R. E. FRICKEY BREHEATER Filed May 23, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l 4- R. E EY 2,356,393

EEEEEEE ER Aug. 22, 1944. R. E. FRICKEY v '4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 23, 1941' R. E. FRICKEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 2.2, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PREHEATER" Royal E. Frickey,"San Francisco, Calif.

Application May 23, 1941, Serial No. "394,805"

16 Claims.

This invention relates to-a portable rail end he'aterwMore particularly, -it relates to a pre heater-for use in heating abutting ends of rails at-a joint in track? Several existingprocesses for treating rail ends lying 'in track require equipment for heating a railend preparatory tothe performance of other :steps; Thus, one rail end-hardening'process requires-a pre-heater for raising the temperature of the railends so that a quenching step may be I performed. Again some processes for building up battered rail ends require a pre-heating of the railends preparatory to laying a bead of weld metal thereon, and one such process calls'for the maintenance of the tips of the abutting rail ends at a* temperature lower than the temperature at a point 'on the railball spaced some distance back from the tip;

With the foregoingdesiderata in mind, one object of this invention is to provide a portable preheater having two heating units for pre-heating two abutting rail ends in a railjoint lying in track. Bythe employment of two heating units, it is possible to avoid applying heat to the tips of the rail ends by positioning the heatingunits on opposite sides of the joint. By mounting the two heating units'on a single'frame, thepre-heater remains a unit and its movement from rail joint to rail Joint is simplified;

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide means for quicldy varying the distance between" the two heating units in order to perform more efiiciently the pre-heating-step of a well known rail end rebuilding process. named process pertinent to this invention comprisesmarkingthe two points on the abutting rail'ends at which the rebuilding is to begin and then centering a pre-heater over each of these two points so that the highest temperature will be held at these points for the longest time during'-cooling-all preparatory to performing certain other steps'in the process. It will be appreciated that the distance from the rail end to a point at which a weld is to begin will vary, In

fact it is not uncommon that a weld bead in onerail end of a joint will be four or five inches long whilethe weld bead in the abutting rail end will be seven or eight inches long. The above mentioned object of this invention, therefore, seeks to provide meansin connection with a portable heater, that is, one which is a unit that may be moved manually from joint to joint, for varying the-distance'between two heating units quickly in order that the portable heater may be set on the'balls of the two rail "ends at a joint with the That part of the last center of one heating unit on the point where the weld is to begin in onerail end and the center of the other heatingunit over the point in the other rail end where the'weld is to begin, 7 Another object of this invention is to provide means for automatically centering a portable pr'eheater on the rails. Thecentering here referred to islateral centering of the heating units on the ball of the rail; As will more clearly appear hereinafter; the pre-heater which is the subject of and hot gases to movedownwardly around the rail ball and in order'to accommodate different sized rails; Into these flame directing inverted channels open a plurality of aligned flame tunnels which for most efiicient operation should be centered over the ball of the rail. In order to accomplish this, the applicant provides centering plates, one on each heating unit, which upon the positioning of the portable pre-heater on the joint, automatically center laterally the heating units 'on the balls of the two rail ends.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel handle and foot supporting arrangement which results in a certain safety factor when carrying the portable pre-heaterfrom rail joint to rail joint while the heating units are very hot. One of the features of this invention is the suspension of the entire pro-heater pivotally from a handle, which is above and at one side of the center of gravity of the heater. By this arrangement, when the pre-heater is lifted by the handle by one standing on that side of the pre-heater away from the handle, the pre-heater will swing away from the lifter. 'The heating units do like- Wise. 7

- A further object of this invention is to position the heating units above the rail ball so as to obtain a maximum heating effect in the ball of the rail. One of the conditions which this burner is required to meet is the limited capacity of the inspirators to add gas to form a combustible mixture While it would be possible to provide a pressure pump for increasing the amount of air which could be added to the gas, such equipment when'used on track is cumbersome and increases the 0 st of operation. In short, such equipment impairs the general portability of the pre-heater. Toward attaining this object, the applicant positions the flame tunnels sufficiently far above the rail so that in conjunction with the depending sides of the inverted channel, into which the flame tunnels open, the total cross-sectional area on both sides of a rail when the heating units are resting on the rail will be approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of the three flame tunnels. Experiments have demonstrated that increasing or reducing the cross-sectional area of the gas escape on both sides of the ball of a rail will impair the rapidity of the heating of the rail balls.

Another object of this invention is to provide a heater heating unit of long life. Ihe heating units in applicants type of heater must be able to withstand high temperatures. Thus, in practicing the process of building up battered rail ends, it is necessary that each heating unit be capable of raising the temperature of the ball of the rail tov 700" F. within approximately two minutes. The use of ordinary refractory material at points in the heating unit exposed to the flame, particularly inv the flame tunnels, has not been found satisfactory. Frequent changes in temperature due to reducing the flame in the heating units when moving the heater from joint to joint, together with the out of doors conditions under which this work is performed, results in rapid disintegration of the refractory material in the heating unit. One of the features of this invention is the employment of Nichrome liners in the heating unit flame tunnels beneath the burner screens. Nichrome is a nickel, chromium, iron alloy which is highly resistant to heat. These liners are positioned between the refractory burner screens and that portion of the heating unit immediately above the rail ball so as to protect the non-metallic refractory material used at other points in the heating unit.

The invention includes certain other improvements as, for example, the mounting of a time clock and abell, and a comparatively inexpensive method of securely positioning the Nichrome tunnel liners. to surrounding refractory material. These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained in one embodiment of this invention shown in the accompanying drawings,

, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pre-heater illustrating its safety feature when being carried;

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the preheater, with the left-hand unit shown in section, the same being positioned at a railjoint with one heating unit closer to the rail joint than the other heating unit;

Figure 3 is an end view of the pre-heater;

Figure 4 is an end view partly in section of a heating unit taken on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side view partly in section of a heating unit;

Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a view of a tube which functions jointly as a main frame support for the preheater. and as a manifold.

Continuing to refer to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, the principal elements of applicant's pre-heater comprise two heating units l0 and I2 supported respectively by two brackets l4 and I6 which in turn are maintained in aligned relationship by being fastened to a heavy tubular member I8, which as will hereinafter appear functions as a manifold positioned in the gas supply line. The two heating units If and I2 have downwardly directed open ended inverted channels 20 and 22, together with tunnels therein for directing flame downwardly into the inverted channels 20 and 22, all of which will be more particularly described hereinafter. The two heating units H] and 12 are supplied with gas through two inspirator bodies 24 and 26 from gas jet assemblies 28 and 30. These two gas jet assemblies 28 and 3B are supplied with gas from the supporting tube or manifold 18, which receives gas from any suitable source through a conduit 32.

By the arrangement of parts shown in Figure l and described in the preceding paragraph, applicant has provided a portable rail end heater having two heating units which may be positioned at a rail joint, astride the joint. That portion of the ball of the rail beneath the center of each heating unit will become the hottest point on the ball of the rail when the heating unit is operating normally and hence, referring to Figure 2,'it will be understood that the tips of the rail ends which are not beneath either of the heating units will become heated primarily by conduction and that in consequence these tips will be at a lower heat than portions of the rail spaced from the tips and immediately beneath the heating units. By this arrangement, it is possible to heat two rail ends quickly with the point of highest temperature in each rail end at a short distance from the tip of the rail end, all as required incertain processes of rail end rebuilding.

Further describing the invention and again referring to Figure 1, each of the brackets l4 and it are attached at their upper portionsto sleeves 34 and 36 having an inside diameter sufficiently great to permit these sleeves 34 and 36 to be slipped longitudinally of the supporting tube IS. The heating unit If! and the bracket M are maintained in fixed relationship to the supporting tube M3 by means of the set screw 33 threadedly engaging the wall of the sleeve 34 and pressed against the supporting tube IS. The heating unit l2 and the supporting bracket 16 may be moved longitudinally of the supporting tube [8 by sliding the sleeve 38 along the supporting tube l8- and utilizing a wing set screw 46 for holding the heating unit at any desireddistance from the heating unit I0. Attention is invited to the means for maintaining the brackets such as M and I6 in assembled relationship to the sleeves 34 and 36. Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that a plate 55 rigidly fastened to the bracket I6 is held to a depending plate I! rigidly fastened to the sleeve 36 by means of a bolt 43 and a nut 44. A hole 45 in the plate l5 has a greater diameter than the diameter of the shank of the bolt 43 and the nut 44 is not drawn up tightly so that ie bracket !6 is only loosely held to the sleeve 36. The purpose of this loose mounting is to make it'possible for each heating unit to adjust itself to the surface of the particular rail upon which it is resting. Rail ends at a joint are notaccomplish the 'purposjdeslredand, it' isconse'k If quently possible to move 'theni'anifold'to that side of the pro-heater which willfcarry the lo'ng'itudif nal'ly movableheating "unitjjwhile positioning a gas pressure gauge 41 andjaftime clock [4,9 Ito;

gether With' gas "connections to' the ,manifold' at" the other ndoi the'pre-he'ater; It will'als'o' be I. 1 'underst'oodtha't the gasconn'ection 46 from'jthe manifold tothe gas jet assembly, 28 is flexiblev in order' tc permit inovement of the heatin unit l2 longitudinally of the manifold orsupporting tube.

l8." The' gas line #8 connecting the manifold-l8 to the gas jet assembly 3e, .on the other. hand,,.

need not be flexible and maybe a meta1 t'ube.

it is thus seen that the distance'betweeritha two heating units may be varied bysimply loosening the wing'setscrew Ml. By this arranger ment it is possible to establish the hottest sp'ot in the ball of the rail at the point'where the weld ends, regardless of thetiact that the end of the weld on one of the two abutting rail endsmaybe five inches from the rail joint while the 'end of the weld on the other rail end is seven or eight inches from the rail joint. Thus, in Figure 2,

there is illustrated a rail 50 having abatteredend commencing at the point 52, which is perhaps five inches from the rail jc-int'i. l The abutting rail 56 hasa battered en'd commencing at the point 58 some eightinc hes'from the end of the rail. According to certain rail end'rebuilding processes now practiced; the pre h'e'a'ting "step" should produce thehigh'estheat at the points 52 and 58 while permitting the tips of the rail to remain comparatively cool. It is evident, re-

ferring to Figure 2, th t by positioning the heating unit It? so that its center'is over the point 52, the heating unit'l2 may be moved away from heating unit H3 until its center is above the point 58. I, If a rail end is battered commencing at a point less than five inches from the tip, it would be necessary for the heating unit to overlap the rail joint if the heating unit center (the heating units being about ten inches long) is to be placed immediately over the point where theweld is to l begin. It is not, however, the practice to permit either heating unit to overlap the joint 54.1. In

such a case, the hottest point on theballlof the rail will not be immediately over the pointwhere the weld is, to commence, but a slightdistancew fartheraway trom'the tip of therailh,

A further featureof this inye'ntionisIthaposi-,

tioning of the handle to one'rside of the center of gravityof the pre-heater whereby liftihgthepreheater by the handle troin the side awayj from the handlewill cause thehot heating units to assume such a position that the heater elements will be directed away from one carrying the heat- Referring to Figure 1, disposed on thesupporting tube !8 between sleeves 34 and 36 is athird sleeve 69 to which is attached by any suite is beneath the supporting tube 18 and the hand saggey naarg the prefheater from the right handsidei as shown Figure 3 or in the manner actually shownin Figure 1', the pre-heater in eluding two 'heating units "l0 and |2 are tilted awayitfrointlfe 'bodyfof the person carrying the pi-hjeateiti V Returning-to Fi ure 3, the leg 66 is bent so as to assist in'holding the preheater in an erect position; When the heatingiunits are resting upon a rail fjoint, An adjustable "pin, 68, having. a sharp. tip, engagesithe ballast or a tie; The leg 66 may betubular throughoutor hollowed at its end sdthatithe .adjustable pin 68 may be slid threi'nand held at any desired point by a set screw 10, see Figure 1.

Another feature of this invention resides in the heating iinits. Referring to Figure 5, each heating.unit comprises ahousing 72, the up er portion of which contains a chamber it having as a bottom a crown sheet i6 fastened to the walls o f the housing by any suitable means The crown sheet 16 contains three holes 78, 8!

and 82 positioned in alignment lengthwise of the heating: unit, see Figure 6. In each of these holes is positioneda refractory burner screen, as 84, and 88, see Figure 6. 'Tl'iese burner screens carry shoulder which engage, the crownsneet and are held tightly thereagainst by two flange members 90 and 92, see Figure 4, which in turn are held in position by wing nuts such as 94 and 96 drawn tightly upon bolts such as 98 I86 which are fastened to the crown sheet 1%, as shown in Figure 5, by any suitable means. The housing 12 has two end walls I02 and JIM, which ends are cutlupwardly from their bottoms to formlthe channel 20. Flanges I66 and 93, see Figures 4 and 5, are attached to the end Walls by any suitable means and follow the curvature of the cut-out, forming thechannels 20 and 22.

Beneath each of the three refractorybiirner screensis positioned a Nichrome tunnel liner as H0, H2 and I I4. The space beneath the crown sheet 16, excepting for the channel 26 and the interior of the tunnel liners H8, H2 and H4, is filled with a refractory material which is positioned while still in the plastic or cementitious state, I The; refractory material upon hardening holds thelNichroi'ne tunnel liners I it, it? and H4 in the position shown beneath. the refractory burnerlscreens 84, 8t and 88 respectively The employment of a Nichrome liner for a burner tunnel solved a serious wear problem which was encountered so long as non-metallic refractory material only wasused for the flame tunnel walls. The refractory material ieteriorated rapidly due to the high heat and hard able means anarm 62 carrying a handle 54,

which handle is substantially parallel to the supportingtube l8. Also attached to the sleeve to is a leg 68 in the base of which fanadju stable pin 68. Referring now to Figure 3, the relationship of the handle 64 and the leg 65, on the one hand,

to the supporting tube l andithe center ofgravity of the pr'e-heater as a whole may be seen.

The center of gravity is to the right of a verti- M cal line passed through the supporting tube is,

and in consequence of this, when the pre-heater 7 is lifted by the handle 54, the supporting tube together with the brackets l4 and IS, the inspirator bodies 24 and 23 and the heating units I0 V ing 72 is to position jig plugs having an outside flame was no longer directed properly against theballof the rail. ,The Nichrome tunnel liners, beingcapable ofwithstanding intenseheat without disintegration .,or deformation, completely solved this problem.

Holding the Nichrome. liners in the refractory material is effected by providing a collar such as M6 for each Nichrome'liner andlpacking the refrac tory material while in the plastic state around theliner soas to engage the collar 516-, and hold the liner, in place. .The actual method, of building the heating ,unit after thecro-wn sheet 56 has been properly mounted in the houscontour like each burner screen plus an extension to fit the inside of a Nichrome liner in the,-

andJZ rotate clockwise until the center of gravity. a

holes I8, 80 and 82 and to hold the jig plugs tightly by means of the flanges 90 and 92 and wing nuts 94 and 96. The heating unit is then inverted and the three Nichrome tunnel liners are slipped down over the three jig plugs. The refractory material, in cement form, is then packed into the spaces between the outside walls of the Nichrome tunnel liners and the inside of the housing I2. The jig plugs are next removed and replaced by the burner screens.

The construction of the Nichrome tunnel liners consist merely in wrapping a Nichrome wire H6 around the outside upper edge of the liners and then making a plurality of welds to establish a firm relationship between the wire and the liner. This method is far less expensive than rolling a shoulder or casting the Nichrome liner with a shoulder.

The means for assembling the heating unit in the pre-heater consists of four bolts such as H8 and I20, see Figure 5, positioned around a large opening I22 centrally of the top of the heating unit housing I2. The opening I22, see Figure 4, is sufliciently large to permit access to the chamber I4 so that the flanges 98 and 92 and any one of the burner screens 84, 86 and 88 may be removed for repair or replacement. The bolts I I8 and I28 seat in holes in the brackets such as IS in Figure 4 with a shoulder I24, see Figure 2, on an elbow I26 connected by a nipple I28 to the inspirator body 24 positioned between the top of the housing I2 and flanges on the bracket I6.

Another feature of this invention is the employment of centering plates. Referring to Figure 2, two centering plates I36 and I32 on the heating units I2 and II! respectively are held for vertical reciprocable movement by means of two flanges, which may best be seen in Figure 1 and which bear the numbers I34 and I36. Each of the centering plates, such as I30, has a cutout portion I38 in its bottom which is gently tapered to a top horizontal portion of a width slightly less than the width of the ball of the rail. Each centering plate, referring to Figure 2, is urged downwardly by a spring member I48 which is held by the bolts holding the heating unit I2 to its associated bracket. The centering plate I30 cannot drop below a desired height because of an inwardly turned edge I42 which engages the top of the heating unit. It is evident that the configuration of the opening I38 in the bottom of each of the centering plates will, when the pre-heater is rested upon the balls of the two rail ends in a joint, tend to center the heating unit over the rail, and, inasmuch as the two centering plates are mounted at the opposite ends of the two heating units, willhave the effect of properly aligning the entire pre-heater With respect to the joint.

Attention is now invited to Figure 4 for the purpose of pointing out the relationship of the openings II I and H3 to the tunnels. Referring to Figure 5, it will be noted that each of these openings I II and H3 are rectangular in crosssection and are defined by the inside walls of the heating unit and the ball of the rail, the actual cross-sectional area being determined by the relationship, returning to Figure 4, of the flanges such as I06 to the bottoms of the tunnel and the refractory material. The size of the openings III and H3 is not fortuitous. Extended experiments wherein the bottom openings of the tunnels were positioned closer to the bal1 of the rail or farther from the ball of the rail than the distance shown in Figure 4 were conducted and in each experiment the temperature rise in the rail ball after a common heating period was checked. It was found that the distance shown in Figures 4 and 5 resulted in the highest heat in the rail when the particular gas supply system employed was used. The cross-sectional area of the openings III and H3 together are approximately equal to the cross-sectional areas of the three tunnels and it was concluded that this relationship provided the best results regardless of changes in the pressure of the gas through the inspirators. When the bottoms of the tunnels (and the heating unit as a whole) were raised farther above the rail, it was believed that the burning gases did not properly impinge upon the surface of the rail but probably swept around the sides of the rail because of the enlarged escape opening. When the tunnels were placed closer to the top of the ball of the rail, only to produce less heat, it is believed that the rapidity of combustion is impaired due perhaps to an excess back pressure on the gas line. At all events, where the burning gas escape opening is approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of the flame tunnels, highly desirable results are obtained.

It will be understood that the cross-sectional areas I II and H3 are not always the same because while the heating units are the same, the size of rails varies. The statements in the foregoing paragraph as to the height of the tunnel bottoms above the rail ball, therefore, represent a desirable means, taking into consideration the various weights of rail that are commonly used by railroads.

Another feature contributing to the success of applicants heating units lies in the refractory walls identified by the numerals II I and II 9. These refractory walls become hot and it has been found that they contribute considerable to the rapid heating of a rail ball by radiating heat to the rail ball.

Attention is called to the length of the handle 64, see Figures 1 and 2. It is, of course, desirable to grasp the handle at the longitudinal center of gravity of the heater. This center of gravity shifts due to moving the heating unit I2 and it is therefore, desirable to have a, handle sufficiently long to permit one carrying the preheater to grasp the handle immediately above the longitudinal center of gravity.

In Figure 7,.the construction of the manifold is shown. The manifold comprises an inner tube I46 concentrically positioned within a heavy outer tube I48, the positioning being obtained by any suitable means. A plurality of small holes establishes communication between the inside of the tube I46 and the annular space between the tube I46 and the tube I48. The manifold is tapped at I59 and the gas is introduced into this annular space. The gas reaches the inner tube I 46 by the holes therein and thence flows out both ends of the inner tube to the gas jet assemblies 28 and 30.

In the particular embodiment of this invention disclosed, the equipment is designed to burn liquid petroleum gas. It will be appreciated that the equipment in the gas line including valves, burner jets, and inspirators may require modification in order to adapt the invention to some other type of fuel, such as gasoline or the like. It will further be understood that the actual embodiment shown in the drawings described herein is capable of modifications and variations K I U n 2,556,393 m n 5 1- which-nevertheless faH within the spirit of the l tionedoverthe ball of: a rail for performing a invention itself, heatingoperation-thereoni ;I-Iaving,thus described ,my invention, what I r 6. A portable rail joint -heaterpecomprising a ,,..;claim as r1ew d d i lt Secure by L tters frame, a pair of heating units-suspended from Patent of the United States is: l said: frame in; substantial alignment, means for g 1. A portable rail joint heater comprising a supplying a combustible mixturei to said heating frame a pair of spaced substantially aligned units means for moyingthe'heatingunitsrelaheating :units mounted on said. frame, means on atively toeachother inalignment, an-open ended the lower part of each heating unit for position-y "inverted. channel-disposed-in the lower, part of ,ing, the heatingunit on a railball, means laterally peach heatingunit having a majonaxis substanadjustablejqonpecting ach heatin unitto the tiallygparallel with-theline of movement. of,the ;,frame whereby each heating unit may properly rhea-ting ,units when ,moved with respect, to

engage; arailat a rail joint regardless of differ- ,eachcther, ;each.of. said inverted channels being ent canting between the two rails, means; for; e1 1, T' hf the heating Units y supplyinga combustible mixture to said heating 5 positioned over the ballof, a rail for performing it d means for varying t distance aheating operation thereon, .and acentering tween Said heating unitswhereby the fQWQ heatplate on. each ofthe heating units for engaging p selected the ball .Of trail; and neutering-"the; inverted .mtheftwqimuuends f -ming a rail joint irrespecw channels of each heating unit with respect tive of the distance of the two points from the thereml I i tipsnofv thg mil endsa 7,. A portable rail joint heater; comprising a a 2., A portable rail, joint [heater com r i a .frame,-.a pair .of-heating units suspended from frame aypairr f Spaced heating units mounted .,;said frame in substantial alignment means for on saidjmmlekanqpen ended inverted. channel supplying a combustible mixturetosaid, heating in the bottom of each heating unit of a sizesuit g5 units, means for moving the heating "u itswrela- M, bl f l i the .ba11,. f a rail when the .tively to eachother in alignment,..an open ended heating ;unit is rested; thereon, the inverted inverted channel disposed injthe lower P of chal'melsin the twoxheafing units being in .each heating, unit having amajor, axis substanstantial ;lengthwise alignm and means ti ally parallel with the line of movement of the .s l plying a combustible mixture to the heating two-heating units Qd WitI-i respech-to mum f: :1, n T N; I n a J n n I each other, said inverted channels beingof-atsize ,3. Av pqrtablg railv joint heater comprising an such that,the heating units maybe positioned rllielongated tubular, Supporting member, a heating over the, ball of a-rail for perform ng a heating 1 1 Suspended {from :said elongated tubular; and ed on each outer gmember, at a, predetermined fixed position, a v end of the-heating units a,centering,platehaving sleeve around said tubular member capable of a tapered opening adapted to be slipped o-ver'the longitudinal movem nt thereof, a sefiond beam ,ball of the rail, said centering plate being capable i ng unit suspended from said sleeve, whereby it veriicaimovementOnlrwith re t is possible to move the second heatingunitwitlrt heatlng n whereby, the centering plate by its sl ve a n t tub lar pportin member and ralyso asjtocenter the inverted channel of each mcansfor supplying a combustible mixture to heatmgumt Over the ball 1; said hafing units- I v h 1 8. Aportable rail joint heater comprising; a .4 1,4. A portable rail joint heater comp-rising, an tubular Supporting m a-pairi of heating elongated tubular supporting member, a heating ti'r suspendedir-om Said tubular supporting funit suspended from said elongated tubular p meanslor' movingthe heatingmmts Qmemberat a predetermined fixed position, means xehtlveqy to eachfithen'nieans Supplying; .for, supplyin a combustible mixture to said ,heati Pombusnble i tmstal-d'heating and i from ae'fixgdypomt on the, tubulansum nandle carrying means.,d1sposed on-said tubular tingmember at onelsideof the center of poltmg member, a sleeve around sa1d tubular slpppr i member capable of longitudinal movements f oftthe heaten'from thatiside V t, ,6 cenero gravityoflthe, rail joint heater thereof, a second heatin unlt sus ended from O a i said sleeve, whereby it is possible to move the opopslte to the hapdle whereby hmrig the heater second heating unit with respect to the first handle W111 cause the heating units to heating unit by sliding the sleeve along the tubugj i g .25 553 g gig zigg gfgg g f suplogtmg 3 1 2 g g f Supply tubular supporting member, a heating unit suslefins e Ween v Secon ea mg and a pended from one end of the supporting member Pomt on the tubular Supportmg member for at a fixed position a sleeve capable of movement plying a combustible mixture to the second heaton said tubular su portin member havi t, whe eby the second heati g u fl y second heating unit z lependi ng therefrom rin: be moved wi h pect to the rall joint heater as for moving the heating units relatively to each a whole. other, means for supplying a combustible mix- 5. A p rt e rail Joint heater comprising a ture to the heating units, a second sleeve freely frame, a pair of heating units suspended from rotatable on said supporting tube, a handle said frame in substantial alignment, means for affixed to the second sleeve, and a leg afiixed to supplying a combustible mixture to said heating the second sleeve and depending to a point s bunits, means for moving the heating units relastantially below the heating units for engaging tively to each other in alignment, an an Op ballast in track whereby the rail joint heater ended inverted channel disposed in the lower part may be supported in an upright position on the of each heating unit having a major. axis subrail, the handle and the leg being disposed on stantially parallel with the line of movement of the same side of the center of gravity of the the two heating units when moved with respect rail joint heater whereby lifting the handle of to each other, said inverted channels being of a the rail joint heater on that side of the center size such that the heating units may be posiof gravity opposite to the-handle and the leg will permit the tubular supporting member to pivot in the sleeve holding the handle, thereby assisting in disengaging the leg from supporting position and during carrying swinging the heating units away from one carrying the heater.

10. A portable rail joint heater comprising a frame, a pair of heating units suspended from said frame in substantial alignment, means for moving the heating units relatively to each other, means for supplying a combustible mixture to said heating units, substantially aligned open ended inverted channels, one in the bottom of each of the heating units, means in the heating units for directing a flame toward said inverted channels, a burner screen in said heating units, tunnels between the burner screen and the associated channels of each heating unit, and a nickel, chromium, iron alloy liner in said tunnels.

11. A portable rail joint heater comprising a frame, a pair of heating units suspended from said frame in substantial alignment, means for moving the heating units relatively to each other, means for supplying a combustible mixture to said heating units, substantially aligned inverted channels, one in the bottom of each of the heating units, a crown plate forming a gas chamber in the upper part of each heating unit, a hole in said crown plate, a burner screen positioned therein, refractory walled tunnels between each burner screen and its associated channels, and nickel, chromium, iron alloy liners protecting the refractory material and disposed between the burner screen and said inverted channels.

12. A portable-rail joint heater comprising a frame, a pair of heating units suspended from said frame in substantial alignment, means for moving the heating units relatively to each other, means for supplying a combustible mixture to said heating units, substantially aligned open ended inverted channels in the bottom of each of the heating units, a crown plate forming a gas compartment in the upper part of each of said heating units, a series of aligned holes in the crown plate parallel to thelength of the inverted channel in the same heating unit, a burner screen in each aligned hole, a nickel, chromium, iron alloy liner disposed beneath each burnerscreen, and refractory material packed between said liners, inside walls of the heating unit and the crown plate.

13. A portable rail joint heater comprising a frame, a pair of heating units suspended from said frame in substantial alignment, means for moving the heating units relatively to each other, means for supplying a combustible mixture to said heating units, substantially aligned open ended inverted channels in the bottom of each of the heating units,a plurality of tunnels downwardly directed and opening into said substantially aligned open ended inverted channels, and means for supporting each substantially aligned open ended inverted channel above the rail so as to create gas escape openings between the ball of the rail and the walls of the inverted channel which will be approximately equal at their smallest point in cross-section to the crosssectional area of all of the tunnels in each heating unit.

14. A portable rail joint heater comprising a frame, a pair of heating units having means thereon for resting on the ball of a rail, means for moving said heating units relative to each other, and means for enabling the heating units to move laterally with respect to their first recited movement whereby when the two heating elements are rested astride a rail joint wherein the rails are canted at different angles, each heating unit may adjust itself to the rail upon which it rests.

15. A portable rail joint heater comprising a frame, a pair of heating units having means thereon for resting on the ball of a rail, means for moving said heating units relative to each other and means for shifting each heating unit with respect to the frame whereby when the two heating units are rested astride a rail joint wherein the rail ends slope downwardly toward the joint due to batter, each heating unit may rest squarely on the rail ball so as to be substantially parallel thereto.

16. A portable rail joint heater comprising a frame, a pair of spaced heating units suspended substantially in alignment from said frame in such a manner that each may be rocked in the direction of a plane passed through both heating units, an open ended inverted channel in the bottom of each heating unit of a size suitable for enclosing the ball of a rail when the heating unit is rested thereon, and means for supplying a combustible mixture to the heating units, whereby the channel of each heating unit may rest firmly on the ball of the rail end despite rail end batter and without resistance from the frame.

ROYAL E. FRICKEY. 

